Mugging for the camera
Each time I arrive on the building site I get a hello and a wave from at least one of the many workers. Usually from quite a few. And when I raise my camera phone I tend to get a…
Have you found Paradise?
Have you ever had a particular moment in an extraordinary location where space and time were forgotten? Or are you seeking such a thing for the first time? In any case, the concept of a paradise is an elusive one,…
Week #24 — Half the roof is done!
An exciting week here in good old Pererenan. We’ve been fortunate to stay ahead of the rainy season and cover half of the building with a roof. The other half is about two weeks away. In the meantime we have…
Early evening stroll in Pererenan
The best times for walking are early in the morning or the late afternoon. Not only are the ultraviolet rays milder and thereby less damaging to your skin, it is also cooler (although in the tropics “cool” does not mean…
In a few more days, a (partial) roof
A roof means many things, and with the rainy season approaching it simply means keeping the crew and the interior spaces dry. To be ready for a February opening we need to get ahead of the wet season. This upcoming…
Week #23 — More brick walls, plaster, and form work
There are now a total of four teams that are working daily on the project: Construction crew MEP crew (mechanical, electrical & plumbing) Brick & plaster crew Windows and doors I am not even certain of the number of people…
A Drop of Kindness, a Well of Gratitude
“Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.” — Scott Adams I’m becoming more convinced each day that the real benefit of travel, or expat living, or even…
Pererenan Beach Development Continues
The project to connect Pererenan Beach with Echo Beach continues daily. When I first reported on the development project there were a few dozen massive rocks moving into place. A couple of months later a walking trail was being formed:…
Week #22 — Staircases, finishing concrete, and more
The structure is changing rapidly now and it’s exciting to see the development on a daily basis. There were months when the progress was like this: holes dug in the ground, mud, then more holes, more mud; concrete and steel…
Applying “plaster” cement
There’s a lot to learn when you are forced to switch what you know about building from the West, to Asia. Here in Indonesia there tends to be teams of workers who all support each other with a set of…
Week #21 — brick walls, “finishes”, and stairs
Finishes means applying or installing elements of the house that the guests will experience directly. Gone are the pipes and wires and unfinished surfaces. As the building continues to rise we are starting to see brick walls where air used…
Time for a break, an Icy one
While it’s not easy to forget you’re in the tropics each and every day, it’s something else to work hour after hour doing physical labor in the intense heat. The above photo shows happy workers sucking on ice pops. A…